Internal-combustion engine



April 28, 1931. H, E MCCRAY 1,803,120

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Original Filed Feb. 15l 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1r AMI! April 28, 1931. HE, MCCRAY 1,803,120

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Original Filed Feb. 15,1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2ufnm M S517 I @M am @Whig Patented Apr. 28, 1931 aires stares.

HAROLD n ivioc'nny, on WATERLOO, iowa, AssieNon. TozroHN DEERE TRACTORcoM- PATENT "orages, g

PANY; on Waarna-Loo,v IOWA IiiTEiiitAL-coivriitrsrioiv ENGINE 'yoriginal application mod-February 15',v i923, serial no;` 619,081;

nividea and this application ined Aprii 27, i925; sonar no. 25,153.`

tiibuting throughout the crank case al lubricant, such as oil,containedttherein, and. for controlling the distribution 'of the oilsothat all the parts requiring lubricationv will be amply supplied, butwill not receive more than is required to keep them properly lubri- Vcated. 1 accomplish ythis object as illustrated in the' drawings and ashereinafter described.

claims. Y v

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the foi-inl of internal combustionenginethat l have chosen for-the purpose of illustrating thepracticalapplication of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinalvertical-section of the crank-'case andthe cylinder Lblock and Y Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical-section online 3 3 of Fig. 2, the-crank case coverbeing omitted; f

The engine illustrated in the drawings, comprises' a hollow base 4 intheforni of a castingadapted to be bolted or otherwisesecured to asupporting plate 5, of ,Wood or other suitable material,'and to containwithin it a fuel tank 6l which, as bestshown in Figs. 2and 3, occupiesthe greater portion of saidv base. rlhe fuel tank is in the 4fori'njofapan or box of suitable dimensions to fit',y into the base 4, and isprovided at its upper margins with an outwardly extending flanget whichoverlies Van inwardly projecting flange 8 on the uppermarginofthe base,thev arrangement being such that the fuel tank Vis supported so thatitsbottoni is slightly above the plate 5'. A. cover plate9 lits over thefuel tank 6,- its marginalY portions-resting on the flange 7, as shownin Fig. 3,-and upon'the margins of this cover plate rest the marginalThat I regard as new is set forth in theV` portions of a crank case l0which is securely bolted to the' base 4 by boltsl 11. Bythisconstruction thecover plate 9-serves not only as the top .of the fueltank 6, but also as the bottom of the crank case, and, as hereinafterpointed out, the crank case and cover plate are tightly fittedtogetherso that the crank caseis adapted tocontain a quantityoflubricant, such as oil, without leakage. To provide for filling thefuel tank 6, the crank case 10 is providedat some convenient point,preferably at its outer` end, with a passage 12 whichleads to a fillingopening 13 in the cover` plate 9,. as best shown in Fig.v 2.r Saidpassage is adapted to be closed by a plug 14, or other suitable means. lnorder to vprevent the escape of oil from the crank case into the passage12 and opening 13,\and also to prevent" lleakage from the crank case,the4 passage 12 is formed in a boss 15 providedat the lower portion ofthe crank case and having portions that overli'e the marginal portion ofthe cover plate 9 around the opening 13 therein,

and a. gasket 16is placed around the lower margin of the crank casebetween it andthe cover plate, said gasket extending also around theopening 13, as best shown in F ig. 2. By this means when thefbolts 11are drawn up tightly thev escape of 'oil from the crank case into thefuel tank is prevented. f Fuel is delivered from the fuel tank throughva pipe 17.connectedwith the Vinner end of said tank at thebottoin'thereof, and having at its outer end a plug 1 8 by theremoval ofwhich the tank may be emptied when desired. Leading trom thetpipe' 17 isa check valve'19, preferably of the balltype, with Vwhich connects asupply pipe 20 through :which fuel' is conducted to thelengineycylinder.l As shown in Figs2, Vthe pipe 17 and check valve 19 areboth-located within the base 4, saidV Vcheck valve beingpreferably inthe form of an el'- bow@V casting, one end vof which extends through anopening' 2'1-in the base so that the pipe 2O maybe conveniently lconnected there- `,witlrby a coupling 22. By this construction fuel tankwithin the base is advantageous,

not only because said tank is well protected, f

but also because space is economized. Furthermore, by mounting;` thecrank case on a separable base, the base can easily be removed andchanged for one of a diderent size, as might be necessary if it weredes':ed to use iiy-,wheels of larger diameter than usual, and, moreover,a cra-nk case of standard design can be used with bases` of differentheights. It may here be explained that this construction is not hereinclaimed, as it is not essential to the subject matter to whichthepresent application is directed, and is included in the subjectmatter of a separate application, Serial No. 26,151 for patent filed ofeven date herewith, now Patentf1,727,016.

The crank case 1() constitutes also the main engine frame, since castintegralwith it is a cylinder block 23 and water hopper 24, as bestshown in Fig. 2. As shown in said figure, the engine cylinder 25 extendshorizontally through the lower portion of the wat-er hopper 24, but isseparated therefrom laterally soY that the water in thehopper surroundssaid cylinder. In the bottom of the cylinder block is an opening havinga plug 26 through which the water in the hopper may bedrawn olf.

The crank case portion of the engine frame is provided with a removablecover 27 which is held in place preferably by bolts 28 at Aoppositesides thereof near the crank case end l of the engine, and by anintermediate bolt 29 which extendsdiagonally through a boss 30 inthecover 27 into a boss 31 in the portion of the engine frame that formsthe inner wall of the water hopper 24, asshown in Fig. 2.Y Gasketsplaced between the cover 27 and the parts of the engine frame againstwhich its margins abut make the closure between said parts oil tight. Byremoving the cover access may be had conveniently to the operating partsin the crank case, all of which are thereby fully exposed. n Y

Extending transversely of the crank case is a crank shaft 32, the crankportion of which is indicated at'33 and is best shown in Fig. 3. rlheend portions of said Vcrank shaft are mounted in suitable bea-rings inthe side walls of the crank case 10,'the lower bearing being shown at 34and theupper bearing at 35 in Fig. 1. "As therein shown, the side wallsofthe crank case adjacent to these bearingsare cut` away and the lowerybearings are formed in depressed portions or; recesses in said sidewalls. -The upper bearings 35V are formed in removable blocks 36 whichslide vertically into these recesses, with the side margins of whichthey engage closely enough to prevent theescape of oil from the crankease.v Said blocks are secured in place by bolts 37, and as the walls ofthe crank case hold them against endwise movement,there is nol lateralstrain on said Vand it is held in bolts. Adjacent to said recesses theside walls of the crank case are strengthened and widened by lateralflanges or extensions 38, as shown in Fig. l, so thatwide bearingsurfaces are provided for the ends of the blocks 36 and they arestrongly supported. The bearings 34, 35 are provided with the usualanti-friction linings 39, as shown in Fig. 1. By removing the cover 27and blocks 36, the crankshaft may readily be removed when necessary.

As best shown in Fig. 2, 40 indicates the piston which operates in thecylinder 25, said piston being connected by a pitman 41 with the crankportion 33 of the crank shaft, which, as best shown in Fig. 3, ispreferably provided with two flywheels 42, 43, one at each side of theengine. A magneto 44 is mounted on the crank case at one side thereofbetween the crank shaft and the water hopper,- as shown in Fig. 1, andbelow the posidescribed. 'The cover plate 46 is removable so that accessmay be had to said chamber, place by screws 47, best shown in Fig. 3. AY

The. magneto 44 is driven from the crank shaft 32 by means of a train ofgears inside the crank case and subject to lubrication by thelubricating means hereinafter described, said train Y of gearscomprising a pinion Y 48 mounted on thel armature shaft`49 of themagneto, a gear 50 mounted on a transverse shaft 51 Ajournalled in oneof the side walls 10L of the crank case, as shown in Fig. 3, and apinion 52 mounted on the crank shaft 32, as shown in Fig. 2. It will beseen from the foregoing description that all the operating parts abovedescribed are located in, or are accessible from, the interior of thecrank case, so that oil-contained in the crank case maybe distributed tothem for their lubrication.

As indicated in Fig. 2, the lower portion of the crank case serves as anoil reservoir, oil being supplied thereto through a passage formed in aboss 53 that projects from the lower portion of the crank case at oneside thereof and is normally closed by a plug 54. Said boss is bestlocated so that it opens into the crank case at a point approximatelymidway of theV length'thereof and adjacent to thel oil hole throughwhich oil is supplied to the pan hereinafter described. The advantage-of this arrangement is that said passage forms aV safe gauge'as tothe level of the oil in the crank case, even though the engine may havebeen s'et slightly out of a level lies position. In other words, owingto the. lo-

cation of said passage a fairl average indication of the oil in thecrank case may be ob.- tained, whereas if it were located eitherin thefront or the back portion of the lcrank case it might indicate anabundance of oil or an absence of oil, depending.' upon which end of theengine happenedkr to be lower;

Located within the crank case, and secured to the bottom thereof, is .apan 55, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, which has a hole or perforation 56 in ita short distance above the bottom thereof for admitting oilY from thecrank case to said pan, and at that sideof said pan adj an cent to theengine cylinder 25 it is provided with an upwardly7 projecting curveddeflector 57, the purpose of which willv be hereinafter explained.arranged over'and rdipping into the pan 55 is acentrifugal governor 58mounted on a transverse shaft 59 journaled inthe side wall l0a of thecrank case. The governor 58 compris-es weighted levers 60 pivoted at 6lto diverging arms 62` that project from the inner end of the shaft 59,the levers being provided. with inwardly projecting arms 63 whichproject toward the axis ofthe shaft`59, as shown in Fig. 3. Obviously,as the governor rotates the weighted portions of the levers 60 tend toswing out, or awayfrom the shaft 59, and the outer ends of the rams 63tend to move inwardly in substantial alinement with the axis of saidvshaft. This inward movement ofthe arins 63 is resisteolby a spring 64mounted ona rod 65 which eX- tends axially through the shaft 59 and isprovided with a head 66 which underlies the inner ends ofthe arms 63',as best shown 1 n F ig. 3. rfhe spring 64:. is` fitted in a recess/in .l

the inner end portion ofthe shaft 59,. and

the inner end of said spring bears against an abutment formed at theinner end of said recess. By this construction said spring tendsto holdthe governor levers, 60 in their norma-lv or retracted position, butyields to permit them toswing outward under centrifugal action. Thegovernor is so arranged with reference to the pan 55 that when it isrotated by the operationof theengine, as hereinafter described, therebycausing the levers 60 to swing outward', said levers dipl into the oilin said pan and consequently take up oil therefrom andv distributeitithroughout the crank case, thereby lubricating the oper atingpartstherein, or accessible therefrom.

The governor 58 is rotated from the crank` shaft 33 ley-means ofthe gear50 which meshes witha pinion 67 mounted' upon and rotating with thegovernorshaft 59,as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Consequently whenevertheengine is in operation the governor is rotated and distribution of theoil occurs, the quantity of oil so distributed depending uponthe speedof the engine; Obviously when the engine operates at high speed: thegovernorwshaftv 59 rotates more; rapidly, andy the leversl 60.l arethrown out further, and dip furtherinto the oil' as the rspeedincreases, and: accordingly take up, more oil fromthe pan 55than they Ywould if the engine were runningfat slower speed. rlllie governortherefore constitutes a centrifugally variable rotary element which iscapable of throwing more oil under increasedfspeeds, due to the factthat the throwing elements are caused to dip furtherinto'y Vthe oilkunderconditions of increased speed.

By driving the rotary element from ythe crank Vshaft through speedlmultiplying gearing as j festlythe distribution of the oiliscoordinated with the speed of the engi-ne soth'at proper lubrication isautomatically .providedffon Theconnectionsby which the governorreguflates the speed of ltheengine are more fully shown and 'described inmyjpendingapplicatiomSerial No. 619,081, but I wish. it tobe understoodlthat while. I prefer to use the arrangement forf thatpurpose showninsa-id application, any other suitable construction may be employed. Ys I* The improved arrangement described by which the oil'tobedistributed: is taken from lou the pan 55'ins't'ead ofd-irectly from themain body of oil in the crank case, also; contributes to t e regulationlof the-[distribution of theV oil, since the amount of oil accessibletothe governor is limited to kthat suppli'edto the pan through the hole56:,'andthereforeif the governor takes away the oil` faster than theflow through said hole, the supplly inthe pan `will be depleted, therebyreducing the amount that is taken upfby thegovernor levers. ByY

this means the distribution of aneXcessive quantity of oil at `highengine-.speedsis pre,- vented. The pan 55 serves the "further purpose.of keeping out sediment which `may accumulate in the bottom ofthe'crankl case,V and Vthesides ofthe pan also serve as deflectors todirect the oilthroughout the-interior ofl 4 the crank case. vThedeflectorg'? is provided to prevent an excessive amount of .oil-fromlbeing thrown, againstv the piston and into the cylinder, and toidirectthe oil 4towardt and against the bearing of the pitman Zon. the

. crank shaft. In additionjto such deiiector'l prefer also tok provideashield` 68 in theform ofa plate which `extends transversely of the as;shown in Figg2. Said shieldis secured at its upper margin to aflange 69jthat pro- `said application, Serial No. 619,081, filed Feb. 15, 1923,and it should be understood that any patentable subject-matter shown anddescribed but not claimed in this application Ais included` in saidapplication, Serial'No. 619,081, or in other divisional applicationsbased thereon.

rWhat Ijclaim as my invention and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. In a splash lubricating system, the combination of a crank caseadapted to contain lubricating oil, an oil receptacle in said crankcase, vand a rotary oil throwingelement adapted to dip into saidreceptacle, comprising Aan oil throwing member responsive to changes incentrifugal force. Y

2. In a splash lubricating system, the combination of a crank caseadapted to contain lubricating oil, a receptacle therein adapted torcontain said oil, and arrotary oil throwing element adapted to dip intosaid receptacle,

f comprising an oil throwing member responel l) fsive'to changesin'centrifugal force disposed over said receptacle and operating underconditions of increased speed to dip further into said receptacle. 3. Ina splash lubricating system, the combination of a crank case adapted tocontain lubricating oil, a receptacle in said crank case having arestricted oil supplying connection therewith for limiting-the amountofV oilVV supplied to said receptacle, and afrotary oil throwing'element adapted to dip into said receptacle comprising means caused .todip further into said receptacle under conditions of increased speed. l4

4. In an internal combustien'engine, the combination of a 'crank shaft,a receptacle adapted to contain lubricating oil, and means forcontrolling the speed of the crank shaft and distributing thelubricating oil comprising a `rotary oil throwing element adapted to dipinto said-receptacle, and means caused to dip furtherv into saidreceptacle under conditions of increased speed.-

Y 5. In aninternal combustion engine, the combination of a crank caseadapted to contain lubricating oil, a crank shaft supported .by saidcrank case, a rotary governor in the lower portion of said crank caseand adapted to dip into the oil therein, and means operated by therotation of said crank shaft for rotating said governor.

6. Ina splash lubricating system, the combination of a crank shaft, areceptacle adapted to contain lubricating oil, means for distributingthe oil comprising va rotary oil throwing element adapted to dip intosaid receptacle and operating under conditions of increased speed to dipfurther into said receptacle, and means rotating said element from thecrank shaft at a higher speed than that of the crank shaft.

7. In a splash lubricating system, the combination of a crank shaft, areceptacle adapted to contain lubricating oil, a rotary oil throwingelementadapted to distribute oil from saidreceptacle, said elementresponding centrifugally to vchanges in speed for varying the amount ofoil thrown, and means for driving said rotary element from the crankshaft at a higher rate of speed than that of the crank shaft.

8. In a splash lubricatingsystem, the combination of a crank shaft, areceptacle adapted to contain lubricating oil, a rotary oil throwingelement adapted to distribute oil from said receptacle, said rotaryelement responding centrifugally to changes in speed for varying theamount of oil thrown, means for driving said rotary element from the.crank shaft, and means operated by the rotation of said rotaryelementfor controllingthe speed of the crank shaft.

9. In a splash lubricating system, the combination of a crank case'adapted to contain lubricating oil, an oil receptacle in said crank casehaving an opening in vthe lower portion thereof lfor the admission ofoil thereto from said crank case, and a rotary oil .throwing elementadapted to dip into said receptacle comprising means caused to dipfurther into said receptacle under conditions of increased speed.

` 10. In a splash lubricating system, the combination of a crank caseadaptedto contain lubricating oil, an oil receptacle in said crank casehaving an opening in the lower portion thereof for the admission of oilthereto from said crank case a rotary oil throwingv element driven bythe crank shaft and arranged to dip into the oil in said receptacletodistribute the same, said rotary element responding toV changes incentrifugal force for varying the amount of oil distributed and meansfor directing the oil thrown by said oil throwing element toward thecrank shaft.

11. In a splash lubricating system, the combinat-ion of a crank caseadapted to contain lubricating oil, an oil receptacle in said crank casehaving an opening in the lower portion thereof'for the admission of oilthereto from said crank case, a rotary oil throwing element driven bythe crank shaft and arranged to dip into the oil in said receptacle todistribute the same, said oil throwing element comprising meansresponding to changes in cen- A If) lll trifugal force for varying theamount of oil thrown thereby and a deflector carried by said receptacleand arranged to direct the oil thrown by said oil throwing elementtoward the crank shaft.

12. 1n a splash vlubricating system, the

combination of a crank case adapted to cono tain lubricating oil, an oilreceptacle in said crank case having an .opening inthe lower portionthereof for the admission of oilv thereto from said crank case, a rotaryoil distributing element adapted to dip into the oil in said receptacleand by its rotation to' distribute the same, means for driving said oildistributing elementat a higher rate of speed than that of the crankshaft, and means for directing the oil thrown by said oil throwingelement toward the crank shaft.

13. In an internal combustion engine.J the combination ofa crank caseadapted to contain lubricating oil, a cylinder block com-4 municatingwith the interior of said crank case, a piston operating in saidcylinder block7 a crank shaft supported by said crank case and connectedwith said piston, a rotating oil distributing element located be# tweenthe crank shaft and the cylinder block, means for driving said oildistributing element from thecrank shaft, a deflector for directing theoil thrown by said oil distributing element toward the crank shaft7 anda shield interposed between said oil distributing element and thecylinder block for limiting the amount of oil supplied to said pistonand the cylinder block.

14. In an internal combustion engine,'the

combination of a crank case adapted to contain lubricating oil, a rotaryoil throwing element adapted to dip into said oil, and an inlet in thecrankcase for introducing oil thereinto located at approximately thedesired oil level in close proximity to said rotary oil throwingelement,V for predetermining the amount of oil in said crank case.

15. An internal combustion engine comprising a crank case adapted tocontain lubricating oil, a receptacle therein adapted to receive theoil, a rotary oil throwing element adapted to dip into said receptacle,and an inlet for introducing oil into the crankcase located therein atapproximately the desired oil level for predetermining the amountoflubricant in said crank case, said inlet being disposed in closeproximity to the transverse plane of said receptacle.

16. An internal combustion engine comprising a crank case adapted tocontain lubricating oil, an oil receptacle in said crank case having anopening in the lower portion thereof for the admission of oil theretofrom said crank case, a centrifugally operating rotary oil throwingelement adapted to dip into said receptacle, and an inlet forintroducing oil into said crank case located in close proximity to the'transverse plane4 of the opening in said oil receptacle.

17. InA a splash lubricating system, the

combination of a crank case'adapted to con-l tain lubricating oil*7 anoil receptacle in said crank case having Van opening in the lowerportion thereof for the `admission of oil thereto from said crankfcase,a rotary oil distributing element adapted to dip into the oil in saidreceptacle and by its rotation to `and means for driving said oildistributing element at a higher rate of speed than that of the crankshaft.y n l HAROLD E. MCCRAY.

